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☆ The McRib is returning for the holidays. Why isn’t it sold year-round?
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-23 | by ( Erika Tulfo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The McRib is returning to menus this holiday season – but don’t get used to it. Essentially, consumers don’t know when it will show up next — and that element of surprise also drives demand. “It creates this sense of urgency that you have to get it now because you don’t know when it’s coming back. You don’t know if it’s coming back,” Henkes said. It’s so popular that the McDonald’s website listed “Why isn’t the McRib sold year-round?” as a frequently asked question.

Persons: McDonald’s, Nacho Fries, hasn’t, ”, Michael Della Penna, Stephen Zagor, David Henkes, Technomic, it’s, ” Henkes, Henkes, Brian Niccol, Zagor Organizations: CNN, Columbia Business School, Starbucks, Facebook, “ Locations: Kansas City

☆ Starbucks considers next moves in China — Cramer says new CEO 'is not fooling around'
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Paulina Likos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The coffee giant's statement was in response to a Bloomberg report that Starbucks is considering selling a stake in its China operations. According to Bloomberg, such options could spur investment from Chinese companies or private equity firms to help Starbucks navigate the domestic coffee market. "There's a reason why Starbucks stock hasn't gone down from when Niccol was picked," Jim argued, touting Niccol's successful six-years-plus leading Chipotle . Niccol started as Starbucks CEO in September, replacing Laxman Narasimhan who was ousted after just 17 months on the job. An employee services in a Starbucks coffee truck at Wuhan International Plaza on October 6, 2022 in Wuhan, Hubei province, China.

Persons: Brian Niccol, Bloomberg, Brian, Niccol, Jim Cramer, Jim, Niccol's, Laxman Narasimhan, Narasimhan, Howard Schultz, Jim Cramer's Organizations: Starbucks, Bloomberg, Elliott Investment Management, U.S, CNBC, Wuhan International Plaza, Getty Locations: China, U.S, Wuhan, Hubei province

☆ A man who's been to nearly 20,000 Starbucks locations describes how the chain could get its 'third-place' status back
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-16 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementOne Starbucks customer has been working on visiting every Starbucks store since 1997. Later this month, a man named Winter plans to set foot in his 20,000th Starbucks store. AdvertisementAt the time, new Starbucks stores were popping up around the US, and Winter said he visited stores around Dallas as they opened. He logs each store visit in a Microsoft Access Database and on his website. Related storiesNot all Starbucks stores that Winter visits are as welcoming as that Houston location where he played chess with friends back in 1995.

Persons: Winter, I'm, Brian Niccol, Howard Schultz, he's, He's, Niccol, baristas Organizations: Starbucks, Business, Microsoft, Niccol Locations: Houston, Plano , Texas, Italy, Arkansas , Oklahoma, West Texas, China, Dallas, Japan, South Africa

☆ Ole Andreas Halvorsen's Viking Global opened stakes in two turnaround stories in the third quarter
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-16 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Ole Andreas Halvorsen's Viking Global bought into two big, second-half turnaround stories in the third quarter. Halvorsen bought almost 1.7 million Starbucks worth $162 million during the quarter. Starbucks shares surged more than 24% the day of the announcement, its best day ever. So far in the fourth quarter, shares have risen less than 1%. Stocks that Viking Global zeroed out in the quarter ranged from Meta Platforms to Dollar Tree to UnitedHealth .

Persons: Ole Andreas Halvorsen's, Halvorsen, Brian Niccol, LSEG, Tesla, Elon Musk, Donald Trump's, Musk, Julian Robertson, Charles Schwab Organizations: Ole Andreas Halvorsen's Viking Global, Tesla, Starbucks, White, Republican, Trump, Tiger Management, Viking, U.S . Bancorp, Visa, Bank of America Locations: Ole Andreas Halvorsen's Viking, Norwegian, American, Chipotle, U.S, UnitedHealth

That's sure to result in increased volatility for the companies in our portfolio exposed to China, the world's second-largest economy. Consumer-dependent stocks Apple and Starbucks may be the most at risk given they are more discretionary versus the aforementioned names. At the Club, Jim has bestowed his "own it, don't trade it" designation on only those two stocks, Apple and Nvidia. AAPL YTD mountain Apple YTD Furthermore, while China growth may be tempered, Apple is aggressively looking to grow its presence in India — both on the consumer side and product manufacturing side of its business. Bottom line The risks for companies that do business in China have certainly increased following Trump's presidential election win.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jim Cramer, Joe Biden, Jensen Huang, Leonardo da Vinci, Lisa Su, Su, Tim Cook, Trump, Jim, China —, Brian Niccol, Niccol, we're, Jim Cramer's, Xi Jinping, Kevin Lemarque Organizations: Devices, Nvidia, GE Healthcare, Apple, AMD, Trump, Club, Bloomberg, U.S, Starbucks, Yum Brands, China, Taco Bell, Chipotle, Jim Cramer's Charitable, CNBC Locations: we're, China, U.S, India, Vietnam, Osaka, Japan

☆ The real reason Starbucks is bringing back self-serve milk and sugar
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-14 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Starbucks baristas can put eight shots of espresso into one cup. Starbucks’ self-serve stations had milk, sugar, sweeteners, spices and stirrers, just like at other coffee shops. This influx of mobile orders has sometimes strained Starbucks workers during rush hours. Gabby Jones/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesNiccol said bringing back self-serve stations will help Starbucks serve drinks in four minutes or less. “We’ll need to have proper staffing so that people are able to restock the condiment bar and make sure it’s clean and presentable.”

Persons: Amanda Poore’s, creamer, ”, Poore, David Garfield, “, Brian Niccol’s, Gabby Jones, Niccol, We’re, it’s, Amanda Rivera, Rivera Organizations: New, New York CNN, Starbucks, Bloomberg, Getty, Starbucks Workers Locations: New York, Seattle, Atlanta

Here's a rapid-fire update on all the stocks in Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust, the portfolio we use for the CNBC Investing Club. This time around, Trump's tariff proposals on Chinese imports could help Amazon in its competition against low-price online sellers Temu and Shein. Salesforce : Not a Trump stock, but it wasn't a Kamala Harris stock either. Constellation Brands : The Mexican beer importer has been punished on fears about what Trump's tariff and immigration proposals could do to its business. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio.

Persons: Jim Cramer's, Jim, Donald Trump's, Trump's, Abbott, Trump, Hock Tan, Tan, We'll, it's pricier, Morgan Stanley, Wells, Kamala Harris, Agentforce, That's, Biden, Dover, Eaton's, Elon, Waymo, JD Vance, we've, Linde, that's, Eli Lilly, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Kennedy, Lilly, Mark Zuckerberg, Zuckerberg, Goldman Sachs, shouldn't, Nextracker, Brian Niccol, Niccol, Stanley Black, Decker, TJ Maxx, Wells Fargo, Jim Cramer Organizations: Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust, CNBC, Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Labs, White, Biden, AMD, Trump, Wednesday, Broadcom, VMWare, BlackRock, Costco, Coterra Energy, Coterra, DuPont, Disney, GE Healthcare, GE Aerospace, Google, Honeywell, Elliott Investment Management, Linde, Microsoft, Big Tech, Apple, Meta, Financial Times, Nvidia, Palo Alto Networks, Yum Brands, Taco Bell, Constellation Brands, Management, TJX, Marshalls, Jim Cramer's Charitable Locations: China, India, Missouri, Wells Fargo, BlackRock, Shanghai, Dover, U.S, Palo, HomeGoods

☆ Chipotle shareholder sues over skimpy portion sizes
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-13 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —A Chipotle shareholder is suing the fast-casual chain over viral social media complaints about skimpy portion sizes. The proposed class-action lawsuit filed Monday claims Chipotle understated customer dissatisfaction regarding its “highly inconsistent” portion sizes in official disclosures. “First, there was never a directive to provide less to our customers,” Niccol said during the earnings call. After that earnings call on October 30, Chipotle stock dipped 7.86%. The proposed class action would make eligible anyone who purchased or sold Chipotle stock from February 8 to October 29, 2024.

Persons: Keith Lee, Chipotle, ” Laurie Schalow, Chipotle’s “, Brian Niccol, ” Niccol, Niccol, Jack Hartung, Scott Boatwright, Boatwright Organizations: New, New York CNN, Starbucks Locations: New York, Wells, Chipotle’s, Chipotle

☆ Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz says Brian Niccol's back-to-basics plan will fix slumping sales at the coffee giant
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-11 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Starbucks' ex-CEO, Howard Schultz, told Fortune he trusts successor Brian Niccol to revitalize the company. But the recent rollout of his new back-to-basics strategy has earned the support of one man who knows something about steering the beloved coffeehouse brand to success: Howard Schultz. He first became Starbucks' CEO in 1986 before leaving in 2000. AdvertisementThough Schultz has twice before left and then returned as CEO of Starbucks, he told Fortune there's no chance he'll reprise his role again. Representatives for Starbucks and the Schultz Family Foundation, of which Howard Schultz is a cofounder, did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

Persons: Howard Schultz, Fortune, Brian Niccol, Schultz, there's, —, he's, Diana Frost, Kraft Heinz Niccol, Ray Kroc, Niccol, Fortune there's Organizations: Starbucks, Service, Kraft, Foundation, Business Locations: Niccol

☆ China's luxury slump is trickling down to other consumer companies
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-07 | by ( Madeline Berg | Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

China's luxury slump is spreading to more consumer brands. Companies like Starbucks, Estée Lauder, and Nike have reported falling sales in the region. It's hitting Western brands particularly hard, as reflected by companies across the consumer sector reporting muted sales in China in the most recent quarter. Consumer spending in China never fully recovered after the government started lifting COVID-19 curbs in late 2022. AdvertisementAdidas managed to buck the trend, reporting sales up 9% in Greater China in the third quarter.

Persons: Estée Lauder, —, China's, MingYii Lai, Brian Niccol, L'Oréal, Lynn Song Organizations: Companies, Starbucks, Nike, Service, Burberry, Daxue Consulting, InBev, Carlsberg, Apple, Adidas, Heineken, Greater China, ING Locations: China, Beijing, Greater China, Greater

☆ Starbucks and Luckin are in a fight for the global coffee market. I visited both to see how they stack up on price, menu, and vibe.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-07 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Luckin Coffee, which has put up a strong fight against Starbucks in Asia, is looking to the US. The chain is known for its aggressive deals, unusual flavors like a Big Cheese coffee drink, and mobile ordering. Luckin versus StarbucksI started at Luckin Coffee. Aditi BharadeThe most expensive drink on the menu was an Iced Oat Shakerato listed for 8 Singapore dollars, or $6. Representatives for Luckin Coffee didn't respond to a request for comment from BI for this story.

Persons: —, Brian Niccol, Niccol, Luckin, Aditi Bharade, Rachel Ruggeri, Ruggeri, It's, David Yu, Jiang, it's, Tiruchelvam, Yu Organizations: Starbucks, Service, Business District, Staff, Singapore, Luckin, BI, Bros, NYU, Aletheia Capital Locations: Asia, China, Singapore, Beijing, United States

☆ Starbucks' app is down on the first day of the chain's holiday menu
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-07 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Starbucks' mobile app appeared to be down during the morning coffee rush on Thursday. AdvertisementSome Starbucks customers could not place orders through its mobile app on Thursday, the first day of the coffee chain's holiday menu. The message that some Starbucks app users saw on Thursday. Alex Bitter/BIDowndetector, a website that tracks website outages, showed a spike in user reports of problems with the Starbucks app around 8 a.m. Related Video Meet the Amazon warehouse workers paying the price for fast, free shippingThursday is the first day Starbucks' holiday offerings are on sale.

Persons: —, Alex Bitter, chai, Gould 🖤, rinks., rian Organizations: Starbucks, Service, Business Locations: Washington ,, New York City

Tingshu Wang | ReutersFrom Apple to Starbucks , U.S. consumer brands are reporting yet another quarter of China sales declines. Apple last week reported Greater China sales fell slightly to $15.03 billion in the three months ended Sept. 28, down from $15.08 billion in the year-ago period. The quarterly sales decline reduced Apple's China revenue share to 15.8% of total net sales, down from 16.9% in the year-ago period. Low consumer confidenceU.S. sportswear giant Nike said that Greater China revenue for the quarter ended Aug. 31 fell by 4% year-on-year to $1.67 billion. In Europe, luxury giant LVMH also felt the drag from the China market.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Tim Cook, Apple, Brian Niccol, Niccol, Matthew Friend, Jean, Jacques Guiony, Isaac Stone Fish, Cummins, Walt, Fish Organizations: Reuters, Apple, U.S, Starbucks, Nike, Carrier, Coca Cola, RTX Corporation, Honeywell, Walt Disney, Caterpillar Locations: Chengdu, Sichuan province, China, U.S, what's, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Greater China, Europe, Asia, Japan, COVID, Japan Asia

☆ JPMorgan highlights stocks with the least amount of sensitivity to U.S. election
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-05 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

As investors await the results of a tightly contested U.S. presidential election, JPMorgan is eyeing a collection of stocks that is less dependent on the outcome. Against that backdrop, the bank compiled a list of stocks with little exposure to election themes. Here is a look at some of the stocks on JPMorgan's list: Expedia made the list. EXPE YTD mountain Expedia stock. SBUX YTD mountain Starbucks stock.

Persons: Expedia, Uber, Barry Diller, Brian Niccol, headwinds Organizations: JPMorgan, Starbucks, Disney, Hilton Worldwide Locations: U.S

☆ Fast food chains are locked in a 'value war' for US customers
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-02 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Fast food chains say they're locked in a "value war" to win increasingly choosy US customers. As a flurry of summer deals come to an end, quick-serve chains say they're now locked in a "value war" to win increasingly choosy US customers. Between higher ingredient usage and other costs on the one hand, and a more competitive consumer economy, interim CEO Scott Boatwright said Chipotle was well-positioned to win the "value war" in fast-casual dining. "We absolutely believe that value in an environment of value-seeking consumers is not about only executing price-pointed promotions and value deals and value bundles — there's more to that." Plosch added that beyond the burger chain's creative promotions, the core menu remains essential to getting customers to come back.

Persons: —, Michael Zuccaro, Chipotle, Scott Boatwright, Brian Niccol, who's, we've, Alex Kaleida, Chris Kempczinski, Kempczinski, Ian Borden, Shack, Robert Lynch, Gunther Plosch Organizations: Service, Starbucks

☆ A fast-changing Chinese coffee market awaits Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-01 | by ( Eunice Yoon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

In this article SBUX Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTPeople seen around the Starbucks coffee store in Shenzhen, China. Costfoto | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesThe formerly Nasdaq-listed Luckin Coffee ran into accounting issues and went through a de-listing. Starbucks has an express version of its coffee stores in China called Starbucks Now, where most patrons order drinks on the app for pick up. Competition from everywhereOn top of the Chinese coffee rivals, Starbucks is competing with a host of other local chains on tea. With more and more Chinese wanting a daily java fix, grab-and-go coffee is becoming widely available at tea chains and convenient marts.

Persons: Jakub Porzycki, Brian Niccol, Niccol, CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin, Price, Zhang Peng, Auntea Jenny, Mixue, Jenny, Tim Hortons Organizations: Nurphoto, Starbucks, Nasdaq, Shanghai Starbucks, Lightrocket, Getty, KFC Locations: Shenzhen, China, Shanghai, Cotti, Beijing, Luckin, Costa Coffee

☆ Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol: We're tracking down the sharpies
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-31 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailStarbucks CEO Brian Niccol: We're tracking down the sharpiesStarbucks CEO Brian Niccol joins CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin to discuss the appeal of coffee, putting guardrails around drink customization, the company's menu plan, how the challenges at Starbucks compare to what he faced at Chipotle, the brand's future in China, 2024 election, and more.

Persons: Brian Niccol, Andrew Ross Sorkin Locations: Chipotle, China

☆ Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol: We have a strong economic model despite challenges
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-31 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailStarbucks CEO Brian Niccol: We have a strong economic model despite challengesStarbucks CEO Brian Niccol joins CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin to discuss the challenges of mobile orders, his relationship with company founder Howard Schultz, and more.

Persons: Brian Niccol, Andrew Ross Sorkin, Howard Schultz

☆ 7 ways that Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol plans to change the coffee chain
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-31 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Niccol wants to change that. Cutting back an 'overly complex' menuSpain, Barcelona, Plaza de Francesc Macia, Starbucks, coffee shop customer ordering. While the changes may disappoint some customers, Niccol said he thinks that they'll appreciate faster, more consistent service in the long run. Bringing back the condiment barsStarbucks brown sugar sachets are seen in Starbucks Coffee in Krakow, Poland on November 4, 2022. Better staffing in cafesMerida, Mexico, Zona Paseo Montejo Centro, Starbucks Coffee shop, baristas and cashier at work smiling.

Persons: Brian Niccols, Brian Niccol, Rachel Ruggeri, Niccol, Lindsey Nicholson, Macia, Jeff Greenberg, Etienne Laurent, we've, Beata Zawrzel, baristas, Taco Bell, Chipotle, Tressie Lieberman, Almond Organizations: Starbucks, CNBC, Mobile, UCG, Getty, Plaza, Universal, AFP, Nurphoto, Zona Paseo, Centro, Starbucks Rewards, Procter & Gamble, Yum Brands Locations: U.S, Queens , New York, Spain, Barcelona, Manhattan Beach , California, Starbucks Coffee, Krakow, Poland, Merida, Mexico

☆ Starbucks will add 'guardrails' to app in effort to streamline mobile ordering
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-31 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Starbucks wants to curb chaotic and complex mobile orders. CEO Brian Niccol announced that "common sense" guardrails will soon be put on app customizations. CEO Brian Niccol said the coffee chain will implement "common sense guardrails" on app orders in the coming months as part of the company's effort to separate the pick-up process from in-store orders. Mobile orders make up more than 30% of transactions at Starbucks stores, he said. Niccol said the company is also prioritizing a new sequencing algorithm that enables accurate pickup times for mobile orders to avoid overwhelming the cafés.

Persons: Brian Niccol, —, customizations, Niccol, Diana Frost, Kraft Heinz Organizations: Starbucks, Service, Mobile

☆ Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol: We're evaluating strategic ways to grow in China
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-31 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailStarbucks CEO Brian Niccol: We're evaluating strategic ways to grow in ChinaStarbucks CEO Brian Niccol joins CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin to discuss the appeal of coffee, putting guardrails around drink customization, the company's menu plan, how the challenges at Starbucks compare to what he faced at Chipotle, the brand's future in China, 2024 election, and more.

Persons: Brian Niccol, Andrew Ross Sorkin Organizations: China Starbucks Locations: China, Chipotle

☆ Starbucks' plan to return to its roots involves 200,000 Sharpies
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-31 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Some customers think the coffee chain has drifted too far from its core, according to Niccol. He's betting that more personal touches — including bringing back Sharpies to write customer names or messages on cups — will bring customers back to cafes. Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol said the coffee chain plans to buy roughly 200,000 Sharpie markers as part of his plan to take the coffee chain back to its roots. For decades, Starbucks positioned itself as a place to linger, but the company has lost that sheen over the years. Shares of Starbucks have risen roughly 1% this year, trailing the S&P 500's gains of 22%.

Persons: Sharpies, Brian Niccol, Niccol, we've, CNBC's, it's, — CNBC's Jacqueline Corba Organizations: Starbucks, Staples Locations: Manhattan , New York, U.S

☆ Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol: Most of the issues are very fixable and in our control
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-31 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailStarbucks CEO Brian Niccol: Most of the issues are very fixable and in our controlStarbucks CEO Brian Niccol joins CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin to discuss the appeal of coffee, putting guardrails around drink customization, the company's menu plan, how the challenges at Starbucks compare to what he faced at Chipotle, the brand's future in China, 2024 election, and more.

Persons: Brian Niccol, Andrew Ross Sorkin Locations: Chipotle, China

☆ Analyst discusses Starbucks' earnings and Luckin Coffee reportedly planning to enter the U.S. market
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-31 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailAnalyst discusses Starbucks' earnings and Luckin Coffee reportedly planning to enter the U.S. marketJohn Zolidis of Quo Vadis Capital says new Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol outlined a "credible and exciting plan" for the company, and discusses Luckin Coffee's reported plans to enter the U.S. market.

Persons: Coffee, John Zolidis, Brian Niccol, Luckin Coffee's Locations: U.S

☆ Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol: Excited to get this turnaround going
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-31 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailStarbucks CEO Brian Niccol: Excited to get this turnaround goingStarbucks CEO Brian Niccol joins CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin to discuss the company's turnaround strategy, the biggest low-hanging fruit to fix, the challenges around pricing, the company's relationship with baristas, return to office policy, and more.

Persons: Brian Niccol, Andrew Ross Sorkin, baristas

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